Mystifying Magazine Mystery

Don · 08-02-2001, 10:31 AM

I have two Shooters that are extremely reliable. One is a 1916 artillery, all matching except mag, and the other is a 1938 S/42, all matching including mag. Both shoot great with the mags that came with them, Mec-Gar mags, and an FXO and a post war Haenel (SP?) mag that is on the same pattern as the FXO. The only problem is the FXO & Haenel are tight fits sliding in and out of the frame.

I just bought a beautiful stainless Haenel mag, in mint condition. Same pattern as the FXO, but it slides in and out of the frames like crazy. Now here comes the mystery: It fires flawlessly in the 1916 LPO8, and flawlessly about half the time in the S/42. The rest of the time, the last round (#8) jams. The breechblock strips it off the top of the mag, and then it stovepipes or something. Tries to feed in the chamber at a bad angle, with the tip of the bullet too high.

Thanks for bearing with me through this long-winded discussion. Any thoughts? I'm baffeled by the inconsistent behavior of these mags that supposed to be identical. Maybe I just need to accept the fact that Lugers are mysterious creatures. Thanks.

HÃ?Â¥kan Spuhr · 08-05-2001, 05:23 PM

Hi

I belives the sliding problem on you'r mags can be that they are extended lengthwise on the top.

This extension is often pretty visiable as you can see signs of hammering bullets.

The problem with #8 jams in you 4" gun might be becuse you have a soft magspring in your mag and the 4" gun operates faster than you 8" gun does.

That is just a guess but have a look at it.

Regards HÃ?Â¥kan

http://www.vapensmedjan.com

ViggoG · 08-07-2001, 02:34 AM

HÃ?Â¥kan Good Friend :

Have you ever increased Magazine spring pressure by disassembling the mag. and streatching the spring ?

If carefully done the spring can usually be brought back to original spec's.

I've had a lot of luck that way .

On the side I've missed hearing from you "out of forum", E-Mail soon as you have time .

ViggoG

Marvin · 08-07-2001, 08:32 AM

Viggo,

I have done the stretch the spring and found that it works well also. I don't know how long the spring will stay this way since it had been in compresssion so long and may want to go back to the "set" it had for so long.

I would not want to rely on this method, but it sure does work. You just have to be carefull not to stretch it to much.

Marvin

HÃ?Â¥kan Spuhr · 08-07-2001, 01:54 PM

I generally have never found the strechtching method to be very good as the springs not seems to be very good.

But I remeber one magazinearticle about it some years ago where the author stated that the springs should be heattreated in the owen afterwards.

I belive he put them in for 1 hour at 200 celcius.

Personally I dont use original mags anylonger and today relys totally on Tripple K mags.

The tripple K's are extremely cheap and works very well.

Regards HÃ?Â¥kan

http://www.vapensmedjan.com

Don · 08-07-2001, 10:24 PM

HÃ?Â¥kan,

Thanks for your ideas. I'm not sure I follow you about the "extended lengthwise," but it could be a language problem (believe me, your English is infinitely better than my Swedish!) There does seem to be fresh wear, white metal, on the sides of the FXO right at the top, where it apparently rubs against the frame.

HÃ?Â¥kan Spuhr · 08-08-2001, 01:37 AM

If its white at the sides at the top it sounds like its extended there.

Is it maybe cracked at rear-top?

Regards HÃ?Â¥kan

08-02-2001, 10:31 AM	#1
Don User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 146 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Mystifying Magazine Mystery I have two Shooters that are extremely reliable. One is a 1916 artillery, all matching except mag, and the other is a 1938 S/42, all matching including mag. Both shoot great with the mags that came with them, Mec-Gar mags, and an FXO and a post war Haenel (SP?) mag that is on the same pattern as the FXO. The only problem is the FXO & Haenel are tight fits sliding in and out of the frame. I just bought a beautiful stainless Haenel mag, in mint condition. Same pattern as the FXO, but it slides in and out of the frames like crazy. Now here comes the mystery: It fires flawlessly in the 1916 LPO8, and flawlessly about half the time in the S/42. The rest of the time, the last round (#8) jams. The breechblock strips it off the top of the mag, and then it stovepipes or something. Tries to feed in the chamber at a bad angle, with the tip of the bullet too high. Thanks for bearing with me through this long-winded discussion. Any thoughts? I'm baffeled by the inconsistent behavior of these mags that supposed to be identical. Maybe I just need to accept the fact that Lugers are mysterious creatures. Thanks.

08-05-2001, 05:23 PM	#2
HÃ?Â¥kan Spuhr User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 282 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Mystifying Magazine Mystery Hi I belives the sliding problem on you'r mags can be that they are extended lengthwise on the top. This extension is often pretty visiable as you can see signs of hammering bullets. The problem with #8 jams in you 4" gun might be becuse you have a soft magspring in your mag and the 4" gun operates faster than you 8" gun does. That is just a guess but have a look at it. Regards HÃ?Â¥kan http://www.vapensmedjan.com

08-07-2001, 02:34 AM	#3
ViggoG RIP Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: South Side Virginia Posts: 534 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Mystifying Magazine Mystery HÃ?Â¥kan Good Friend : Have you ever increased Magazine spring pressure by disassembling the mag. and streatching the spring ? If carefully done the spring can usually be brought back to original spec's. I've had a lot of luck that way . On the side I've missed hearing from you "out of forum", E-Mail soon as you have time . ViggoG

08-07-2001, 08:32 AM	#4
Marvin User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Upstate S.C. Posts: 1,132 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Mystifying Magazine Mystery Viggo, I have done the stretch the spring and found that it works well also. I don't know how long the spring will stay this way since it had been in compresssion so long and may want to go back to the "set" it had for so long. I would not want to rely on this method, but it sure does work. You just have to be carefull not to stretch it to much. Marvin

08-07-2001, 01:54 PM	#5
HÃ?Â¥kan Spuhr User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 282 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Mystifying Magazine Mystery I generally have never found the strechtching method to be very good as the springs not seems to be very good. But I remeber one magazinearticle about it some years ago where the author stated that the springs should be heattreated in the owen afterwards. I belive he put them in for 1 hour at 200 celcius. Personally I dont use original mags anylonger and today relys totally on Tripple K mags. The tripple K's are extremely cheap and works very well. Regards HÃ?Â¥kan http://www.vapensmedjan.com

08-07-2001, 10:24 PM	#6
Don User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Texas Posts: 146 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Mystifying Magazine Mystery HÃ?Â¥kan, Thanks for your ideas. I'm not sure I follow you about the "extended lengthwise," but it could be a language problem (believe me, your English is infinitely better than my Swedish!) There does seem to be fresh wear, white metal, on the sides of the FXO right at the top, where it apparently rubs against the frame.

08-08-2001, 01:37 AM	#7
HÃ?Â¥kan Spuhr User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 282 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Mystifying Magazine Mystery If its white at the sides at the top it sounds like its extended there. Is it maybe cracked at rear-top? Regards HÃ?Â¥kan